Comments on: Saw Doc today

By: Jamey Lancaster

Jamey Lancaster — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 22:19:54 +0000

Well, I will say that I couldn’t do more than 1/4 of a cup at a time at your
stage. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t get to 1/2 a cup for several months! I
didn’t worry too much about it, since I was getting vites and protein.
Keeping from being dehydrated is the most difficult thing for us. We will
always need extra water. Do whatever it takes - even if it means adding a
little lemon and splenda, or a bit of propel to flavor it. Some find it
easier to take warm, some lukewarm, some room temp, some cold. Whichever
works for you. As long as you’re getting in your water, protein, your vites
and minerals, you should be covered nutritionally - Not that I would tell
you to disobey your doctor, but you are covered nutritionally. Your pouch is
still healing. Take care of you!

Pam in Niceville

"I’m not the postmaster, I’m some poor bastard who’s the victim of some

stupid … experiment. What a place! What a situation! What kind of man
would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart
from, say, the average voter." Terry Pratchett - Going Postal

Pam, Am doing better. It is my nerves I know. Everytime I see that open

wound I get horribly scared, upset and nauseated. I am on Centrum Chewables
and

will go to the kids vitties instead for a few weeks. Am on liquids and a

little mushy stuff now. The cream of wheat is great and the whey protein
mixes

right in. Then I mix instant potatoes with my chicken broth. Tastes good
too.

I know I am not eating enough, but just can’t stomach it. I’d rather eat

too little than too much and throw up. But, by my doc’s schedule I should
be

having a meal 6 times a day of about 1/2 cup each that takes 30-45 min to
eat

and I can only handle two or three meals a day like that.

Cannot get enough water to satisfy my system. I have to have the water

because of my kidneys and the medication I am on. I see the Doc on the 4th
of

January. That is the surgeon at Wm Beaumont Army Hospital. I see the other

surgeon on 27th of Dec to see if we can butterfly this wound closed.

Of course I cannot get up and walk and such because of the open wound, but

hey I am resting and am getting stronger each day. I can sit up on my own
and

get up on my own now. I get to the bathroom and dining room on my own now
too.

That is definitely an improvement. My ankles look like skinny beanpoles
for

some reason. LOL Actually they are a normal size for a change. LOL Just

not swollen.

Well, Thank you again for all your advice. Today is 14 days out from

surgery. Am looking forward to another 14 and being able to start walking a
little.

Miki in NM

By: val_500

val_500 — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 06:34:51 +0000

Pam, Am doing better. It is my nerves I know. Everytime I see that open
wound I get horribly scared, upset and nauseated. I am on Centrum Chewables and
will go to the kids vitties instead for a few weeks. Am on liquids and a
little mushy stuff now. The cream of wheat is great and the whey protein mixes
right in. Then I mix instant potatoes with my chicken broth. Tastes good too.
I know I am not eating enough, but just can’t stomach it. I’d rather eat
too little than too much and throw up. But, by my doc’s schedule I should be
having a meal 6 times a day of about 1/2 cup each that takes 30-45 min to eat
and I can only handle two or three meals a day like that.

Cannot get enough water to satisfy my system. I have to have the water
because of my kidneys and the medication I am on. I see the Doc on the 4th of
January. That is the surgeon at Wm Beaumont Army Hospital. I see the other
surgeon on 27th of Dec to see if we can butterfly this wound closed.

Of course I cannot get up and walk and such because of the open wound, but
hey I am resting and am getting stronger each day. I can sit up on my own and
get up on my own now. I get to the bathroom and dining room on my own now too.
That is definitely an improvement. My ankles look like skinny beanpoles for
some reason. LOL Actually they are a normal size for a change. LOL Just
not swollen.

Well, Thank you again for all your advice. Today is 14 days out from
surgery. Am looking forward to another 14 and being able to start walking a
little.

Miki in NM

By: Jamey Lancaster

Jamey Lancaster — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:35:58 +0000

MIKI! You need to be resting. Moving just enough to keep from getting
blood clots, but resting! Don’t overdo, or the darn hole will have problems
closing up! You’ll find your tastes change and things you loved you now
can’t stand, and things you thought you didn’t like, you suddenly find you
like. It’s why I suggest trying protein drink samples, because you never
know . I hate that you’re throwing up. Be sure to mention it to the
doc. When it comes to eating, are you still on liquids, or have you moved
to mushy foods yet? When you do your chewable vites, are you chewing them
well and then waiting a bit between each pill? Your little pouch is really
swollen at this point, so it can only take a little bit at a time. Early
on, I had my chewable centrums and then I emptied all the other capsules
into my protein drink, which I made up in half servings so I could get them
down in 30-40 minutes.

{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}

Pam in Niceville

_____

Thanks everyone for being here for me. I am throwing up my chewable
vitamins
now. And certain food smells set me off to throwing up, Garlic it is and I
love garlic. How Come? Anyone else had this problem?

I made myself stay up 7 hrs today. Just been too groggy. Was all alone
for
the first time for a full day. Scary. LOL I piddle around the house.
Can’t
lift with this gap still not sewed up, so I pick up one thing at a time and
move it or put it away etc.

Miki in NM

_____

By: val_500

val_500 — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:32:29 +0000

Thanks everyone for being here for me. I am throwing up my chewable vitamins
now. And certain food smells set me off to throwing up, Garlic it is and I
love garlic. How Come? Anyone else had this problem?

I made myself stay up 7 hrs today. Just been too groggy. Was all alone for
the first time for a full day. Scary. LOL I piddle around the house. Can’t
lift with this gap still not sewed up, so I pick up one thing at a time and
move it or put it away etc.

Miki in NM

By: Jamey Lancaster

Jamey Lancaster — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 08:54:23 +0000

Well, I’m glad you’re doing better. Sounds like Dr. Friedman is good for
you, and that’s a very good thing. I often wonder if that kind of
inattention is just a furtherance of the prejudice we deal with as MOs in
every other area of our life. I’m sure the surgeon would NOT be a happy
camper to find out that the nursing care was so poor and that you had to go
on the economy to get it fixed! He should have been called, at the very
least. It’s not a good record for him to have (someone having to do his
followup in a potentially dangerous situation) – whether it’s his fault or
not.

Missed the Fox special, but BCBS has decided to no longer cover GBS in
Florida. They were demanding 6 months in the last year doctor supervised
diet history as far back as 2 years ago when I had my surgery – probably
even longer, but it’s why mine was self-pay. I had years and years of diet
history, but nothing in the last year. I’d given up.

Pam

_____

Saw Doc today and still can’t butterfly me back together until after
Christmas. No more infection so they finally took me off the antibiotics.
I was
throwing them up so badly… No one around here will mix the liquid percocet
for
me so I got liquid tylenol. Just have to do.

Really don’t know if the surgeon knew of the lack of attention I was getting

or not. Don’t see him until 4 Jan. Have never had problems with military
hospital since I can remember. They were always a fine place to be. I just

don’t think the staff likes taking care of the bypass patients. Am still
seeing
this civilian surgeon until I can get healed and taped back together. Feels

like my insides are falling out everytime I move. And I am quite
comfortable
with Dr. Friedman. At least he came to my rescue when none other would. I
didn’t realize there was no bariatric centers around here. I heard all have
to go
to Phoenix.

Did anyone see the special on Fox News where insurance companies are
cracking
down on the bariactric surgeries because they want the people to be on a low

fat, low cal supervised diet for six months to prove they have don’t
everything they can to loose weight. It was quite interesting. I asked
myself, yeah
and who is going to supervise them when they are at home away from the doc.
So
many young people think this is a easy quick fix. So sad.

Well, Happy holidays to all. TIred, got to rest

-24 LBS in 12 days

Miki in NM

_____